Hypatius of Byzantium

Holy Martyr Hypatius of Byzantium was one of four young confessors who suffered in the time of the Emperor Aurelian (270-275), together with the old man Lucillian and the virgin Paula. The Church commemorates him on 16 June (new style).

Lucillian had been a pagan priest and, in old age, understood that the pagan religion is false, turned with his whole soul to faith in Christ and was baptized. Through his preaching many pagans became Christians. For this the Jews denounced him to the governor of Nicomedia, Silvanus, who tried to force him to return to idols. Because he refused, they crushed his jaws, beat him with rods, hung him head downward and shut him up in prison, where he met four boy confessors of Christ: Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius. Lucillian urged them to stand firm in the faith and not to fear torments and death.

After a time they were brought to trial and thrown into a blazing furnace, but a rain that fell suddenly put out the flames and the martyrs remained unharmed. The governor condemned them to death and sent them to Byzantium for the sentence to be carried out. The youths were put to the sword, and Saint Lucillian was nailed to a cross with many nails.

A witness of their struggle was the holy virgin Paula, who had devoted her life to serving those who suffered for Christ. She brought food to the imprisoned Christians, washed their wounds, gave them medicine and buried the bodies of the martyrs. After the death of Lucillian and the four youths, she returned to Nicomedia and continued her holy service. She was seized and thrown into a furnace, but by the power of God remained unharmed. She was then sent to Byzantium, where she was beheaded.